Paddlers embark on 140km kayak for disability fundraising

ELEANOR HALL: Now to that endurance test by 60 kayakers in eastern Victoria who are planning to paddle 140 kilometres to raise money for people with disabilities.

The Sale to Sea participants will traverse the Gippsland Lakes and most of the paddlers have a disability themselves, as Jenni Henderson reports.

JENNI HENDERSON: I'm standing here on the banks of the Sale canal. Sixty paddlers of varying abilities are about to get in the water. This is the start of an 120 kilometre journey through the Gippsland lakes, ending up in Lakes Entrance. Today's leg is 40 kilometres.

FEMALE KAYAKER: We've just got to get you, we've just got to get you down to this level, don't we.

JENNI HENDERSON: It's a bit tricky for some but everyone's willing to give it a go.

JOHN NELSON: My name is John Nelson, I'm just coming up for my 72nd birthday and I'm a disabled trilateral amputee. I lost both legs below the knee due to getting meningococcal when I was 62.

JENNI HENDERSON: We're waiting on the docks here, what's the first challenge?

JOHN NELSON: Getting in the kayak which is at ground level because it's in the river, we're just going to work out something. I'm going to sit on an esky and then I can get down into it but other than that, it's a bit of a challenge.

JENNI HENDERSON: And you're also helping out one of the other paddlers here. Can you describe your relationship today, what you've been doing for each other?

LEANNE WISHART: Leisa is paddling today in the tandem kayak.

JENNI HENDERSON: You're going to sign for me to speak to Leisa at the moment. How long have you been training for?

LEANNE WISHART: How long have you been training? About one month. We've been paddling for about one month practicing.

JENNI HENDERSON: Has it been difficult, a big learning curve?

LEANNE WISHART: Oh, not really hard. I find paddling easy but the first time that we did it, it was relaxed and not so hard, but it's a little bit harder this time when we're paddling in the Sale to Sea. It's much longer and my arms are really sore and I'm getting thirsty and I'm running out of energy but its good fun.

JENNI HENDERSON: Has there been any special things you've put in place to signal to people that you need anything as you're going along with the kayak?

LEANNE WISHART: Facial expressions and signals with the hands. That's helpful but did you also decide to tap, on the side of the boat? So one tap is a rest, two taps is go, three I'm tired.

JENNI HENDERSON: Have you had to use the three taps so far?

LEANNE WISHART: Yes, yes I did that. I got really tired so I had to put my paddle up in the air to let the boats know that I'd had enough.

ANDREW BEDGGOOD: Andrew Bedggood, I suppose lead kayaker and organiser.

JENNI HENDERSON: How's everyone fared so far?

ANDREW BEDGGOOD: They all look pretty healthy, yeah, no we've had a couple of changeovers half way down, we've swapped a few over that have got tired and that, so we've put them in the big boat to have a break and they'll have a paddle later on.

JENNI HENDERSON: You’ve got a few people have got interesting boat set-ups here today, one woman Liz has got her guide dog with her, how does that work?

ANDREW BEDGGOOD: Well the dog has been asleep the whole time (laughs). Slid down the front of the kayak and made heavy going for her, so yeah it's enjoying it, seems to be snoring most of the way.

The other couple we paddle with, Wayne had a stroke, so he's got his paddle set up on a system on the front deck so he only uses one hand, so yeah he's doing quite well. Bloke sitting next to you is the right hand man. He's been with me ever since.

TROY ANDERSON: Troy Anderson.

JENNI HENDERSON: What do you think of the event so far Troy?

TROY ANDERSON: Oh, I love it, it's all about team work and supporting each other, having a go. We do have a no drowning policy, so hopefully that's a good clause that we don't have anybody fall in.